The next time Bermuda's Davis Cup players hear the song "The One That Got Away" they should certainly have memories of last night's decisive doubles match against St. Lucia.

That's precisely what transpired at the International Tennis Centre in St. Vincent as the Bermudian combination of James Collieson and Jenson Bascome faltered at critical junctures and ultimately fell 7-5, 6-3 to the St. Lucian duo of Vernon Lewis and Yves Sinson in their Americas Zone Group Four match.

The loss meant that St. Lucia prevailed 2-1 in the fixture, with the two teams having split their two singles matches earlier in the day.

"It was a quiet walk home," said Bermuda's captain/coach Steve Bean, summing up the dejection in his camp as they made their way back to their hotel.

What a right they had to be crestfallen as they had worked their way into strong positions against the St. Lucians only to squander the hard-earned opportunities.

In the first set, the Collieson-Bascome duo failed to capitalise on a double-set point as they were up 5-4 in games, with the St. Lucians serving at 15-40 to save the set.

"That was it right there. That was our chance to take the first set but we lost it," acknowledged Bean, adding that Bermuda then immediately dropped serve in the second set.

At 2-1 to St. Lucia in the second set rain interrupted for about 90 minutes and when play resumed Bermuda bounced back, taking the next two games to lead 3-2.

"Our guys jumped right on them but then we just died on three (games). We had a lot of opportunities but we didn't put them away. We just didn't take advantage. That's life," said the coach.

The loss has put Bermuda's back to the wall and they must win their next two fixtures against Barbados (tomorrow) and Bolivia (on Saturday) 3-0 and hope that St. Lucia lose one of their fixtures to stand any chance of being promoted to Group Three.

"Our destiny is not in our hands anymore because, even if we beat Bolivia and we all have lost one fixture, they will start counting matches won. St. Lucia and Bolivia will have more points than us because they have been beating teams 3-0 and we are beating teams 2-1.

"So it's a mathematical thing right now," explained Bean.

The St. Lucians, he said, celebrated joyously after sealing the victory. It was apt revenge for the two teams' last Group Four battle which Bermuda won - again in a doubles decider.

In the morning session, Bermuda had shared the singles matches 1-1 with their opponents for the third straight occasion. This time it was top seed Collieson who proved the hero as he overcame heat exhaustion to pull off a three-set thriller against Kane Easter, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. It was the first time the 25-year-old had won a singles match in the tournament and also the first time he had ousted Easter.

Prior to this match, Bascome, 22, suffered his first singles loss in the competition, succumbing to Lewis in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. Lewis is undefeated so far and, even more impressively, is yet to concede a set to any opponent.

"We did well to split the singles. St. Lucia is very tough. It was a really courageous performance by James. He knew he had come up short in his previous two singles matches and Jenson had already lost his singles match this morning so if James had lost that would have been it against St. Lucia. He came up in a big way though he was still fighting the heat and his legs are stiff," said Bean.

Today is a rest day for all the competitors.